THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways converted Manuel L. Quezon University in Quiapo to a 60-bed quarantine facility in a span of two weeks.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, who also serves as isolation czar for the country’s pandemic response task force, explained the conversion of the campus as an isolation center was “to add 60 more bed units that will cater to the city’s Covid19 cases”.

“With the online learning system in place this school year, available school buildings are being tapped as converting existing buildings is one of the fastest options to add more Covid19 facilities,” Villar said.

The MLQU facility features one radiology room, two nurse stations, and four comfort rooms with two allotted for medical personnel and two for patients’ use.

Previously, Villar said 10,000 more quarantine facilities are expected to be constructed around the country by the end of the year.

DPWH plans to complete 20,000 quarantine facilities this year.

“To date, almost 10,000 quarantine facilities have been constructed across the country. We’re not done yet, we continue to build facilities. We hope to hit more than 20,000 quarantine facilities across the country,” he said.